Two remain in running for Roberti Farm lease

Thursday

May 24, 2007 at 12:01 AMMay 24, 2007 at 9:54 AM

Town leaders have decided to seek more information on two of the three bids for use of the 6.3-acre Roberti Farm site on Route 6A in Sandwich.“We decided to reject and throw out one proposal,” said Assistant Town Administrator Doug Lapp, referring to the submission of The Rose Man of Barnstable. “It was non-responsive, which means it didn’t meet the minimum required for the proposal. The other two did meet the minimum requirements for us to consider, but they will require further details, including a detailed summary of the plan of services.”The parties involved in preparing the two bids that passed the first cut – the Cape Cod Horse Council and Jonathan Sprouts of Rochester — will be asked to furnish additional information about their proposals by the middle of June.

Silene Gordon

Town leaders have decided to seek more information on two of the three bids for use of the 6.3-acre Roberti Farm site on Route 6A in Sandwich. “We decided to reject and throw out one proposal,” said Assistant Town Administrator Doug Lapp, referring to the submission of The Rose Man of Barnstable. “It was non-responsive, which means it didn’t meet the minimum required for the proposal. The other two did meet the minimum requirements for us to consider, but they will require further details, including a detailed summary of the plan of services.”The parties involved in preparing the two bids that passed the first cut – the Cape Cod Horse Council and Jonathan Sprouts of Rochester — will be asked to furnish additional information about their proposals by the middle of June. Selectmen voted in executive session last week to solicit more information from the bidders.“Our consensus was to talk to these bidders,” said Lapp. “Once we have the additional information we need, we can make another recommendation as to how to proceed.” Lapp said if the information is received by the middle of June, it is likely the review team can present something to selectmen within a few weeks. “By the end of July, there could be a decision made,” said Lapp. If a lease agreement is reached, it would be valid for 10 years. The town issued a Request for Proposals on the property which is behind Stop & Shop on Route 6A. Restrictions on the property, which was known to be the last functioning dairy farm on Cape Cod, require that the site be used for agricultural purposes. The directive was part of the Cape Cod Commission’s Development of Regional Impact findings when Tedeschi Corp. purchased the land in 2000. The company donated the land to the town the following year. In its bid, Cape Cod Horse Council seeks to provide accommodations and facilities on the site for 24 horses, with the prospect of offering riding opportunities as well as shows on the site. If chosen, the Barnstable-based non-profit group offered to make extensive renovations to the barn on the site, in lieu of a waiver of the first five years of rent. The renovation cost included in the estimate is valued at $350,000. Jonathan Sprouts, started in 1976 in Rochester, has offered the town rent of $1,000 per month to conduct its business in Sandwich. The company grows a variety of sprouts for distribution in supermarkets and food distributors throughout New England. A Fair Trade Certified Importer, the company also imports organic bananas and grapes. While price will be a factor in the final decision, Lapp said there are other criteria, including experience, plan of services, benefits to the community, references and financial strength of the entity.“The highest rent does not necessarily take all. It is one part of the equation,” said Lapp. An RFP was issued six years ago on the site, but the town did not receive any bids. In an effort to make it more attractive to potential bidders, the requirement to hold bidders to renovating the barn and the silos on the property was scratched, as was a minimum rent. “We’re pleased that we got three responses that were agricultural and deed-responsive,” said Lapp. “Now we need more information about the two that met the minimum requirements.”